हन यो के हुन लागेको हाम्रो देशमा? द:सा लागे पछी के के हुने हो के के। हुन पनि आज बुटवल र नवलपरासीमा साम्प्रदाइक दङगा भड्कियो, कारण आहिले सम्म थाहा हुन सकेको छैन । हाल देश अनेक उतार चाडाब बाट गुज्रिरहेको छ। यस्तो अवस्थामा सबैले सैयम अपनाउदै जानु त कता हो कता, आफ्नो भाग खोज्ने, हुल्दङा गर्ने देखी बाहेक कसैको बुद्धिले केहि अन्य सुभ कार्य गरेको हुन्न नपायको बर्सौ हुनलागे झै अनुभब् हुन्छ। यस्तो अबस्थामा म सबै नेपलिलाइ धैर्य धारन् गरि सम्यम् अपनाउदै एक्जुट हुन आग्रह गर्दछु।

Curfew in Butwal and Taulihawa; two killed; situation tense (update)

Local administrations of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts have imposed indefinite curfew in Butwal Municipality and Taulihawa respectively from Sunday afternoon in view of possible violence in demonstrations organised by supporters of Mohit Khan, a former leader of an anti-Maoist resistance group, who was shot dead by an unidentified group this morning.

Local residents and supporters of Khan had started angry protests after he was killed by an unidentified group at Chandrauta, Kapilvastu, at around 8:30 am Sunday near his home.

The local administrations said the curfew would remain till the situation returns to normal. The Kapilvastu administration has imposed curfew in certain stretches of highways linking the district headquarters, reports said.

Despite the imposition of the curfew, the demonstrations continue. Looting and vandalising have become rampant. The police said they have not been able to reach the incident site saying there might be some armed people hiding.

A local journalist told Radio Sagarmatha that a riot erupted after the local transport entrepreneurs started demonstrations when the supporters of Khan obstructed the transport.

Additionally, protesters lobbed a bomb at an Armed Police Force (APF) team at Chanuata, killing Constable Hasan Puri. Puri was returning from his duty station when protesters attacked him. The police said another person has also been killed, but they are yet to identify the person.

Local people in Butwal say some rounds of gunfire were also heard in the town just before the curfew was imposed. The demonstrators attacked vehicles, shops and government offices due to which the marketplaces had remained shut and vehicles stayed off the roads from morning. Dozens of vehicles and private houses have been vandalised by the demonstrators.

Police said armed criminal groups from across the southern border had infiltrated into the demonstrations to instigate mayhem.

The district administrations have said more police force will be deployed shortly to the area to take the situation under control.

After leading armed resistance campaign in parts of Kapilvastu, Khan had joined the Madhesi Democratic Forum. nepalnews.com ia sep 16 07